I'm currently applying for the 2012-2013 cycle to T14 (NYU down), with NYU ED (PENN 2nd Rd ED if that doesn't work).

I have a 162, 169 LSAT and a 3.84 GPA. I have 2 LoRs from professors who know me fairly well. I also have a 3rd LoR from my church reverend.

I've spoken to many recent grads and current matriculating law students and they've all reiterated that the app process is a #s game...but I feel SOFTS become very important for people with ~ #s to me (we're at the cutoff at many of these schools).

That said, I am having SO much anxiety and doubt right now with applying because I have such weak softs.

I feel like this would be less of a problem if I were coming directly out of undergrad but I have been out of school for the past 2 years (c/o 2010). However, here I am, 2 years out, with a very sparse resume...

Do you think I should write an addendum for my WE?

I initially planned on applying to/attending law school right after undergrad but the recession hit my family especially hard and as a result, I was forced to work at my parent's small business for longer than I originally planned. This actually hurt my career options as well, because employers, especially law firms looking to hire paralegals and LA's stopped considering me as a recent grad. Consequently, I've been working for my parents and looking at matriculating in the fall as my best option.

Aside from the work experience, I've been involved in the community doing a lot of church work over the past 2 years (church leadership, volunteering, missionary work in PERU).

I'm sorry if this seems more like a rant than anything else to you guys...I just want some perspective. I need to find the "right" way to market myself to the T14 schools so they will consider me as a good candidate. I don't want them to look at me and think, "okay, he's decently smart if we look at just his #s, but what makes him better than Joe Lawyer with the same #s? Oh and look, he's been out of school for 2 yrs too. But he hasn't really done a lot professionally. Maybe he'll flake..."

I wouldn't write an addendum for the WE, but maybe try to incorporate parts of your experience (w/ your parents' small business for example, or maybe the church stuff) into your PS if that's possible? As in, 'though I had to take an unexpected detour, I was able to learn a lot from it' type thing. Just throwing an idea out there.

Awesome post! My numbers are different but I'm in a similar situation. Surprisingly, I am not a Noble Laureate nor a self made billionaire so unfortunately my softs seem to be just about average. I think incorporating your unwavering perseverance through such a tough economic situation into your personal statement may help you stand out a little more.

You have decent numbers and have a shot at some T14s but w/ little to no $$$. If you wait and retake your LSAT, you may have more options and a lot less debt...